Minister of Homeland Security Fitzgerald Hinds and Minister of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM Affairs Dr Amery Browne met with Chargé d’Affaires at the US Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago, Shanté Moore, following “concerns” about some parts of the Level advisory Three US Advising Americans to ‘Reconsider Travel’ to Trinidad and Tobago.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and CARICOM said the meeting took place at the Ministry’s headquarters on November 14, 2022.
The ministry said Dr Browne and Hinds expressed concern about the November 8 advisory, in which Americans are advised to reconsider travel to Trinidad and Tobago because of “chemistry, terrorism and kidnapping”.
The Ministry said:
“Following an exchange of views, all parties agreed to continue the ongoing cooperation between Trinidad and Tobago and the United States of America in an effort to address the issues highlighted by the Travel Advisory of November 8, 2022, and the Charge d’Affaires took to convey the views expressed at the meeting to the US State Department”.
The advisory currently states:
“Reconsider traveling to Trinidad and Tobago due to crIme. Exercise extra caution in Trinidad and Tobago due to tERRORISM AND kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.
“U.S. Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to the following areas in Port of Spain: Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, Cocorite, and the interior of Queens’ Park Savannah. After dark, U.S. Government personnel are prohibited from traveling to downtown Port of Spain. , view of Fort George and all the beaches. Violence and shootings occur regularly in some areas of Port of Spain.”
“Country summary: Violent crime, such as murder, robbery, assault, sexual assault, home invasion, and kidnapping, are common.
“Gang activity, such as drug trafficking, is common. A significant proportion of violent crime is gang-related.
“Terrorists can attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public spaces”.
Crime experts say this could be the country’s bloodiest year on record, with the homicide rate topping 500 and rising with two months of the year left to go.
